Mumbai Meri Jaan
Updated: May 26
Mumbai, the "City of Dreams,". Like every Bollywood movie’s description of Mumbai. A city of dreams. A city of busy lives. Where no one has time for one another. Everyone is busy doing what they do best. The place where people know what it takes to struggle and come up in life. Living in small kholis to gloating away their huge mansions, Mumbai is every person’s lifeline. In one of the most populous places in the world, people don’t understand the word stop, they won’t stop even if they understood. This city never sleeps. Its people have to keep going, they have to keep growing. In this sweet madness, they also find the time to indulge in a few joys. They make their everyday life their small joys. A cutting chai early morning, the daily train hustle to work, the steaming vada pavs on a rainy evening, cheering for India at Wankhede, eating colourful crushed ice candies (golas) with your girlfriend on Marine drive and sitting on pavements and watching the yellow and black cabbies drive by are the true joys of life.
In the wake of new, hip places to explore in Mumbai, the classic aspects of Mumbai still have an enduring charm that continues to attract both locals and tourists alike. Modern skyscrapers, shopping malls, and entertainment hubs have canvassed the city like a modern chic painting, however the historical sites, charming art galleries, trendy cafes, and bustling street markets are like timeless brushstrokes on the canvas of Mumbai's soul.
This is Mumbai Meri Jaan.
Visit Mohammed Ali Road on Eid or Girgaum Chowpatty beach on Diwali or Chapel road and Hill road in Bandra on Christmas, you’ll witness an insurmountable number of people of various strata’s of society and of varied religions coming together to celebrate these festivals. Despite the differences in religious beliefs, be it the kirtans and langars in the Gurudwara in Dadar or seeking blessings on Mahavir Jayanti in the Jain temple in Walkeshwar or offerings on Ganesh Chaturthi to Lalbaughcha Raja, people from various backgrounds, including Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, and others come together to share meals, and participate in each other's religious ceremonies. This is what makes Mumbai a melting pot of diverse cultures and religions. People of Mumbai have managed to coexist harmoniously for centuries and it is this spirit of unity, inclusivity and communal harmony that is deeply ingrained in the city's ethos.
Mumbai local is lifeline for a million Mumbaikars and if you haven’t experienced navigating through the crowded compartments jostling for space, it’s high time you do. Get off your cushioned leather seats of your swanky car and take a surreal ride on one of our compartmentalised railway dibbas to your next destination. When the the armpits sweat, passengers are squished together, push comes to shove, the rush hour chaotic environment becomes your daily reality and you get magically thrown off at your station, that’s when you would’ve truly experienced the challenging and overwhelming yet resilient Mumbai local journey. It’s called Dhaka muki :)
CST (Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus) is one of the busiest railway stations on the harbour line, representing the spirit and vibrancy of Mumbai. It is also testament to the durability of its structure, considering a million passengers walk through its British styled doors even today. It’s architectural style is an impressive blend of Victorian Gothic and traditional Indian. No wonder it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site.
If you want to learn the art of saying NO, then let me introduce you to the Mumbai autorickshaw wala. You say ‘Bhaiya Ghatkapor?’, the answer is a negative nod of the head. ‘Bhaisaheb Bandstand?’ The answer is ‘Nahi’. I love their attitude, they do what they have to do. They might not make their boney for the day (the first earning for the day), but they won’t budge if they don’t want to go your way. The autorickshaw is the quickest and easiest public transportation to hail in Mumbai. It fits 3 passengers snug in the back seat, an additional 3 children on the lap if allowed and 1 person in the front with the driver! That’s how we do our jugaad in Mumbai ;)
A few new Indian home run kitchens in Netherlands have started to sell vada pav (a deep fried spiced potato ball stuffed in a bun) for roughly €2 a piece. Quite reasonable for Dutch standards ain’t it? “Tumcha satakli aahe ka?” (Have you gone mad?) That’s a whooping ₹160 for a vada pav in Indian rupees. I’d get 16 vada pavs for that kinda money. Selling at ₹10-15 a piece, Mumbai’s favourite street food Vada Pav still tops the chart for the best eats in Mumbai. It’s the food that makes most people’s lunch meal or a snack that goes great with chai in the evenings or a convenient take away for large get-togethers or if you happen to be anything like me, you’d just pick one because you passed by a stall selling hot piping vada pavs.
I’ve seen people more shocked than amazed when the chef cuts into half a 500 gms Amul butter onto the tawa and mixes it with the bhaji. When they say ‘makhan laga ke’ (meaning apply butter generously), Sardar pav bhaji takes that literally to the extreme. Established in 1966, this famed street food vendor became so popular for his style of making pav bhaji, that it’s been running houseful since then. The initial shock gradually transitions into craving and once you bite into the buttery bread, your senses.
One of the chicest and iconic locations in town, Leopold and Mondegar cafes are an emotion. It is every townie’s hangout spot. It is here that every cool kid around the block meets his crush the first time to make a lasting impression. Leopold Cafe was established in 1871 and is one of the oldest cafes in Mumbai. It’s old charm and vintage decor is a vibe. A chilled beer and a chicken chilly dry is a standard favourite at Leopold’s. Its popularity was such that it had to face a very unfortunate encounter, one including the 2008 Mumbai attacks. which made headlines across the globe. Mondegar is a retro-themed cafe located right next to Leopold Cafe. It was established in 1932 and is known for its vibrant and quirky decor. Mondegar is famous for its jukebox, which plays a variety of music genres. These cafes have become popular landmarks in the city and are frequented by locals and tourists alike. If you want to unwind, socialize, and enjoy good food and drinks, Leopold and Mondis is the place to go.
Also monikered the jewel of Mumbai. The Queen’s necklace starts from Nariman Point at the South end and ends at Chowpatty in the North. Also known as the crown, the drive is approximately 3 to 4 kms long. Mumbai’s tantalizing skyline makes the iconic Marine Drive. With skyscrapers and prominent buildings marking the periphery of this drive, Marine drive is the focal point of the city. Come witness the gorgeous sunrises and sunsets during summer or watch the waves lash out at the stoned wall guarding the city from the wrath of the sea during monsoons. Hawkers offer piping hot chai and coffee, joggers and pedestrians traverse the stretch, and couples enjoy romantic moments hand in hand. Many protuberant hotels dot its skyline including the famous Ambassador hotel, Trident, Oberoi and the
Much before Kobe and Yoko became popular for their sizzling sizzlers, Fort’s fountain sizzlers was already prominent and well-known in this area. The concept of sizzlers, a steaming hot iron plate with cooked veggies and rice or noodles served to you sizzling in delicious sauces, was first introduced in Japan in 1950s. From Japan it’s fame travelled to India and the fish became very popular. Fountain sizzlers in Fort in Mumbai is a novelty for sizzler lovers. Try their Classic Chicken Shashlik I say.
Off the Worli coastline and situated on an islet, the Haji Ali Dargah is a floating wonder of Mumbai. The white walled Haji Ali Mosque houses the remains of the Saint Haji Ali. Situated on a jetty in Heera Panna, Marine Lines, the Haji Ali Dargah is a popular religious place of workship in Mumbai. It has the walking path of approximately 2 kms with water on all sides, on which hawkers, vendors, and shopkeepers have stationed themselves to allure the mosque visitors with their products.
My parents moved to Bengaluru as soon as I got married, after spending a good 26 years of their life in Mumbai. When they lived in Mumbai, their one constant in the ever changing dynamics of the city din was the darshan at Siddhivinayaka. Their belief system is so powerful that even today when they occasionally visit Mumbai, they ensure they are up early on a holy Tuesday and at the doorstep of Siddhivinayaka to offer their prayers. They believe that they have attained complete enlightenment only if they have been able to get a glimpse of lord Ganesha for a few seconds, by thrusting themselves forward amidst a sea of devotees in a very compact ornamented temple room housing the lord in an otherwise colossal Siddhivinayaka temple complex.
Before the advent of fast fashion, the likes of Zara, H&M, Bersha etc, the latest trends in fashion was already dominating the streets of Bandra and Colaba. Linking Road and Colaba Causeway boast shopping trends that surpass those of big brands. Designers and shoppers alike draw inspiration from the unique collections found in these areas. I once found a Remanika labelled dress in a pile of clothes in Linking Road, its design was so ahead of its time. Colourful joothis, dresses, hats, bags and accessories adorn their shops. Bargain your way and you’ll definitely go home with the best of best buys.
I’m a millennial and I still believe if one wants to get an essence of Mumbai, then one needs to explore the quintessential things that make Mumbai. Juhu beach is a quintessential iconic beach that makes Mumbai ‘MUMBAI’. With its vibrant atmosphere of beach stalls and bustling street vendors, pleasant walking arenas, sandy shores, stunning sunsets and kite flyers, Juhu beach is the perfect place to get acquainted with the Arabian Sea and bustling culture of Mumbai life.
You can be a lover, you can be a hater, you can be neither, or you can be either, doesn’t matter who you are, if you are an Indian, you surely know about King Khan and his legacy. Thousands of people throng outside Mannat every fortnight to get a sneak peak of Bollywood’s larger than life star Shah Rukh Khan. His grand residence on bandstand from the terrace of which he waves and greets his thousands of fans and drives them crazy is testament to his real life story of becoming King Khan. I'm speechless. See it to believe it!
Apart from Shah Rukh Khan, Bandra one of the areas mostly preferred by top Bollywood celebrities. Actors like John Abraham, Siddharth Malhotra, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan and Salman Khan also have their primary residence in Bandra.
The heart beat of Mumbai and a feast for cricket enthusiasts, witnessing a cricket match at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede stadium is an unforgettable experience. When Mumbai’s eccentricity comes out in volumes and numbers, the excitement in the air is at explosive level. The single most convenient way to witness all of the GOATs of cricket in action with an exhilarating atmosphere is hands down a match at Wankhede stadium. The roaring and chanting crowds, the sizers and fours, the
When you fly high over Mumbai, the one patch that’s highly noticeable is a sea of blue plastic tarpaulin roofs of little innumerable shelters, balancing its weight on sticks and stones, making for illegitimate houses of the destitute yet savvy inhabitants of the city. This is Dharavi. Bustling with slum dwellers, Dharavi is also known for its good quality of leather goods. The Khumbharwada market in Dharavi is known for its leather tanneries and they have a wide range of leather accessories such as belts, bags, wallets and leather footwear. They also have stores sporting the trendiest in fashion such as jackets, coats etc.
Symbolic to Mumbai, the time immemorial structure standing strong and tall, being the gateway to a number of merchants and fisherman alike, the Gateway of India is a testament to Mumbai’s history and heritage. Hail a jetty here to take you on a ride to explore the UNESCO world heritage site elephanta caves, the beaches and forts of Alibaug, the amusement parks at Gorai Island or a leisurely cruise around Mumbai Harbour.
Closing Thoughts
The one aspect that makes all these places and things to do in Mumbai amazingly remarkable is the unity and acceptance among its residents. If not for this cosmopolitan nature and the spirit of tolerance, Mumbai wouldn’t be the city that it is today. The diversity in its people, religious beliefs, foods, festivals and environs constitutes Mumbai's social fabric. And this unity in diversity serves as an inspiration for other cities and societies across the globe.
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